Safety pin



May 27, J. H. TODD SAFETY PIN Filed Oct. 28, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR. JOHN H. To DD ATTOENEY May 27, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1947 u 5 2 E 6 2 mm M 2 a $8 3 m 2 2 5 R 2 5 a 2 a m m i FTG. 14

INVENTOR. JOHN H. TODD ill 5W Patented May 27, 1952 rrso STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY PIN John H. Todd, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application October 28, 1947, Serial No. 782,539

The invention relates to improvements in safety pins, and is particularly illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the instant specification by applications of different forms thereof to the fastening thereby of laundry nets. The laundry nets fastened by the improved safety pins are containers for garznents which are stored in the nets and the latter tumbled in the wash wheels to wash the garments.

The claims of the instant application are directed to the form of the invention shown in Figure 7.

It is well known in the, laundry art that the washing of many articles in large scale operations is effected in so-called nets, which are made of flexible reticulated material, and each of which contains all or a portion of the articles belonging to one customer, which nets are fastened at their tops or mouths by safety pins. Many of these pins are of so-called giant size, four or five inches in length or even longer. The pins aresubjected to considerable pounding or other abuse in the wash wheels or barrels in which the washing is efiected.

Many of the laundry nets now being used are made of synthetic material, such as rayon, and are much less bulky and lighter than those made of natural material. However, it is still advisable to use the large safety pins for fastening the lighter nets inasmuch as the pins are subjected to the considerable pounding and abuse mentioned and as secure a fastening of the net as possible is desired despite the effect on the pin of the poundingwhich it receives. Moreover, even the large pins are frequently sprung open during the washing operation permitting the contents of the net to escape and resulting, if two or more pins are opened in the same wash wheel, in theintermingling of articles belonging to different customers and, consequently, in imperfect distribution of the articles to the real owners thereof with consequent claims upon the laundry for losses and damage. Furthermore, the net material often becomes entangled between closely adjacent portions of the safety pins requiring additional tedious untangling operations and resulting in damage to the nets. The described .entangling of the net takes place adjacent both ends of the stem or pinning portion of the pin.

The instant improvements provide'means for preventing the springing open ofthe pins and also the entanglement of the net' between closely adjacent parts of the pin.

5 Claims. (Cl. 24-156) The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain. pin assemblies and special elements illustrating the improvements in safety pins, the same being described and illustrated, however, in only a few of the various forms in which the principle of the invention may be embodied.

In said annexed drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing improvements in a laundry pin which are designed to prevent the entanglement of a laundry net in the coils of a bent spring wire pin, a portion of a net fastened by the pin being also shown, the net being one which is made of flexible reticulated material and is of relatively light weight and bulk so that, when its opening edge has been closed by the usual operation of repeatedly whipping the stem of the pin over such opening edge, and the successive net folds closely bunched, the net does not cover the whole length of the stem or pinning portion of the pin, and is resiliently mounted on a spring or barrier preventing its entanglement in the pin coils;

Figure 2 is an elevation, in open position, of the pin shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section, upon an enlarged scale, taken in the plane indicated by the line 33, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevation, upon an enlarged scale, taken from the plane indicated by the line 4-4, Figure 2;

Figure 5 illustrates the application to a standard pin of a compression spring designed to prevent the entanglement of a laundry net in the coils of the pin;

Figure 6 is afragmentary elevation illustrating modified means for preventing the entanglement of the net in the pin coils;

Figure 7 is an elevation of a form of improved laundry pin by which a light, flexible, reticulated laundry net is fastened, a fragmentary portion of the net being shown, and the form of invention shown obviating the entanglement of the laundry net at both ends of the pin stem, i. e., both entanglement in the coils of the pin and also between the inner pinning end and the pin head seat in which the pinning end is held,

the view also illustrating net. material forced down on the upper side of the pinning end, by the play of the pin elements during'the laundry operation, and tending to prevent the pinning end being sprung open during the washing operation;

' Figure 8 is a transverse section, upon an enlarged scale, taken in the plane indicated by the line 8-8, Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a transverse section, upon an enlarged scale, taken in the plane indicated by the line 9-9, Figure '7;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevation, partially in section, of a modified form of pin designed to prevent the entanglement of the net between the extreme pinning end and the pin head seat in which the pinning end is held;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevation of the head end of a standard pin which has been reorganized, and to which a member has been added, to prevent the entanglement of the laundry net in the head end of the pin, and the opening of the pinning end during the washing operation;

Figure 12 is a transverse section taken in the plane indicated by the line l2-|2, Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a longitudinal section taken in the plane indicated by the line l3-I3, Figure 11; and

Figure 14 is a fragmentary elevation of the body and seat portion of a pin in which the spring wire is additionally reinforced so as to permit the use of a spring wire of smaller'cross-section, the form of invention shown in'this figure also preventing entanglement of the net material in the wire-coils and between the seat and the pinning endof the pin, and having means for preventing the springing open of the pinning end.

Referring to the annexed drawings in which the same'parts are'indicated by the same several numbers in the respective figures, there are disclosed several forms of devices in which the invention is embodied. One of these forms, Figures 1 to 6, shows means for preventing the en; tangle'mentof the material of which the laundry net is made in 'the'coils of the U-shaped spring wire pin, both in a new pin and also in an old pin which has been reorganized to contain the improvement and prevent such entanglement.

Another form of the invention is shown in Fi ures '7 to 9, in which means are provided for preventing entanglement of the material of which the laundry net is comprised both in the coils of the U-shaped spring wire pin and also between the pinning end of the pin and the seat within which said pinning end is held, means also being shown for preventing the springing open of the pinning end during the washing operation.

Another form of the invention is shown in Figure 10, in which modified means are provided for preventing entanglement of the net material between the pinning end-of the pin and the seat for such pinning end, means also being shown for preventing the springing open of the pinning end.

Another form of "the invention is shown in Figures 1'1, 12, and 13, in which a standard pin is reorganized to prevent entanglement of the material of the laundry net between the pinning end of the pinahd the pin seat, and to prevent the springing open of the pinning end.

A form of thedevice is shown in Figure 14 containing the above-mentioned improvements in a laundry pin which is'reinforced so as to permit the use of a spring wire of smaller cross-section.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 to 5, a standard form of so-called giant safety pin is shown having a plate-like head I with a curled peripheral edge 2 forming a flange, which flange is inwardly-extended on the pinning lend-side of the head I and disposed in a plane laterally of and substantially parallel to the face of the head i to form a seat 3 providing a pocket for receiving the pinning end B. The vibratory or bobbing movements of the pinning end 6, during the washing operation, are toward and from the seat 3 and adjacent laterally of the plate-like head I, as will be understood from Figure 8 which shows a transverse section of a pin head having conventional body and pinning end elements similar to those shown in Figure l. The shank 4 of the pin has a curved outer end which is rigidly secured in the curled outer head edge 2 up to a point adjacent the seat 3 and is tensioned by means of coils 5 intermediate its ends to provide a firm engagement of the pinning end 6 in the seat 3. In usual practice, a ring I is passed loosely through the pin coils 5 and also through a uniquely configured check member 8 provided with special indicia, such as a particular number,

(not shown), for establishing identification oi the owner of the contents of the laundry net 15 which are being washed.

It has been stated that the laundry nets I5 of synthetic material are lighter in weight and considerably less bulky than standard nets made of natural material. It also has been stated that it is necessary to utilize a large laundry pin for closing the mouths of these synthetic nets because a comparatively large pin is necessary to withstand the .pounding which the assembly receives in the tumbler or wash wheel. Therefore, when the mouth of the synthetic net 15 is adequately closed by a close grouping of the net folds [6 made by whipping the pinning end 6=over the material of the-net mouth, there is a considerable length of the pinning end 6 which is not covered by the net'folds Hi. The invention shown in Figures 1 to 5 provides means for resiliently keeping the net folds ['6 in proper closed position and for preventing these folds from becoming entangled in the coils 5 of the pin due to creeping of the net folds 16 between these coils as the latter play during the washing operation.

The means for accomplishing the advantages just mentioned comprise a compression spring 18 having an elongated hook H, Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, which is passed around one of the coils '5 and tightly secured thereto by a pressed fit, the other end I2 of the spring 10 being ground on its exterior surface and closely disposed to the adjacent coil of the spring 10, this end 12 of the spring l0 engaging the pinning end 6 with a sliding fit, all as appears inFigures 2 and 3. The two ends of the spring 10 are of reduced size in cross-section thus providing an enlarged intermediate section I 3. The pinning end 6 of the safety pin is passed through the entire spring 10.

It is evident that the describedstructure provides 'a resilient mountingfor the closed laundry net l5 which keeps the mouth of the latter adequately closed by forcing the folds 16 toward-and against the inner'lower edge of the head and also provides accommodation for different amounts of bulk of the closed-net mouths and for any play to which the closed mouth issubjected during the washingeperation. The r'eticulated synthetic net material is also fie'xible or stretchy whereby it is materially expansive or materially compressible. The efiect 'oi'this natural springiness of the inetimateri'al is balanced by the play of the spring elements during the washing operation.

The spring l0 incorporated with the laundry pin, as shown in Figures 1 to 5, may be a separate member provided for standard pins and connected thereto as shown, or it may be an element of an entirely new pin made for the stated purpose and incorporated with the remaining elements of the pin as shown.

In Figure 6 I disclose a standard pin 4 reorganized for preventing entanglement of the material cf the laundry net in the coils 5 and the reorganization consists in securing to the pinning end 5 with a pressed fit a closely coiled bushing i7 adjacent the spring coils 5.

Referring to the form of the device shown in Figures 7, '8, and 9, provision is made not only for preventing entanglement of the material of the laundry net 23 in the coils 24 of the pin 23, but means also are provided for preventing entanglement of the net material between the pinning end 25 and the pin seat 22. Similarly to the pin 4 shown in Figures 1 to 5, the pin 23 is held by plate-like head and a curled flange 2i formed at the top end to hold the shank end of the pin 23 and at the other end to provide a seat 22 for the pinning end 25, the pin 23 also being formed with an intermediate coil portion 24. The plate head 20 is disposed laterally of the path of vibratory and bobbing pin movements due to the washing operation, as clearly appears in Figure 8.

The form of the safety pin shown in Figures 7, 8, and 9 is a new pin having a shank 23 and an indentation 28, Figures 7 and 8, in the exterior surface of the seat 22 for the pinning end 25. The indentation 28 thus provides a. raised longitudinally-narrow transverse support 33 for the pinning end and within the seat 22. This support 33 is substantially a line-contact support.

The raised pin support 33 thus provides a longi tudinal recess 34 disposed beneath the pinning end 25 and extending from the raised projection 33 to the inner end of the seat 22. If folded net material creeps into this recess 34 during the washing operation, it will be held only lightly by the pinning end 25 since the recess is always open and cannot be entirely closed by the pinning end. Therefore, there will be no continuous creeping of the net material into the recess 34 and no constantly-increasing accumulation of net material in the seat beneath thetransverselyadjacent portion of the pinning end 25. If the net material could not readily pass in and out of the recess 34, it would creep in under that part of the pinning end 25 mounted on the projection 33 as this pinning end 25 bobs up and down during the washing operation.

Thus, the vibrations of the pinning end 25 will not cause the latter firmly to catch the net material. When, in present standard structures, the material creeps in between the base of the seat 22 and a pinning end portion of the pin which engages the bottom of the seat throughout its length, the net material is firmly held by the pinning end portion and gradually creeps further inwardly within the seat to become tightly en tangled. In the improved pin herein shown and described, this disadvantage is obviated by the raised support 33 providing the recess 34 within which the net material is not firmly held between the pinning end 25 and the bottom of the seat 22.

Furthermore, there is shown in Figures 9 and '10 the manner of forcing the pinning end 25 against its raised support 33 within the seat 22, thus preventing the release of the pinning end from the seat 22 during the washing operation and the slipping off of the net 29 from the pinning end 25 and, consequently, the escape from the net 29 of the articles therein contained and being washed. These means restraining and minimizing the springing or bobbing open of the pinning end 25 comprise an element 32, such as shown in Figures 7 and 9, which is provided by longitudinally lengthening the upper portion of the head 20 to an extent so that a lower folded edge 27 of the extension 32 restrains the size of the outer folds 30 and 3| of the folds 26 into which the mouth of the net 29 has been whipped in assembly of the net of the pin. Thus the outer terminal folds of the net 29 are compressed into the wedging or diminishing space I9 formed by the break or opening of the inner head edge beneath the rolled edge 21 of the longitudinal extension 32 by the play of the elements and the tension of the spring I 0. This assembly exerts considerable pressure through the folds 30 and the adjacent folds 3| upon the pinning end 25 and greatly limits, and minimizes the amplitude of the vibrations of the pinning end 25 during the washing operation. In fact, this amplitude of the pinning end vibration is limited to an extent that obviates the springing of the pinning end 25 outof the seat 22 and thus obviates the opening of the pinning end. The peripheral edge 58 of the head 20 is curved downwardly toward the seat 22 so as to provide a space I9 of gradually downwardly-increasing longitudinal dimension whereby one or two or a small number of the folds 33 of the net 29 and adjacent folds 3| are wedged'into the space l9 and pressed downwardly upon the pinning end 25 so as firmly but somewhat resiliently to hold the pinning end 25 to its mounting 33 and prevent its being sprung out of the seat 22.

A modification of the means for preventing creeping of the folded net material into the pin seat between the seat base and the pinning end is shown in Figure 10, wherein the bottom of the seat 38 is slightly curved upwardly at its outer end to form a support 33 for the pinning end 25 within the seat 38, and then is curved sharply downwardly to its inner terminal edge into a flaring end portion 36, thus forming a recess 37 adjacently below the adjacent portion of the pinning end 25. If and when the net folds 30 and 3| creep into this recess 37, they will only be loosely engaged therein and only lightly held so that they will not become entangled between the pinning end'25' and the adjacently lowerv bottom surface of the seat 33. Therefore, there will be no continuous creeping and continuous accumulation of the net material in the seat 38 below the pinning end 25.

Referring to the form of invention shown in Figures 11, 12, and 13, the same is an entirely reorganized standard laundry pin, insofar as preventing entanglement of the net material between the pinning end 25 and the seat 22 is concerned, and insofar as the preventing of the opening of the pinning end 25 is concerned. In other words, the standard pin is reorganized not only to provide the raised member 33 supporting the pinning end 25 and the consequent longitudinal recess 34 but also is provided with an element 4! adjacent the inner edge of the head 23 which extends substantially half way across the head from one side to the other and has a bottom outwardly sloping surface portion. This element 4! compresses the folds of the net mouth adjacent the seat 22 and wedges them toward the pinning end 25 and thus shortens the amplitude of the play of the pinning end 25, during the washing operation, so that this pinning end does notbecome disengaged from the seatji.

This special element His ailoop member, Figure 12, the abutting edges -of which are welded together adjacently above the pin 23 adjacent the top of the head 26; and, also, the loop element 4| is welded to the top of the pin'23 at its two .side edges, asclearly shown by the welds 52, Figures l1 and 12. This element '4] is engaged with the pin head 20 by means of notching a bottom peripheral edge portion of the element 4|, as 'indicated by the number 40, Figure 13, and the head 20 is seated in this notch 40.

Referring to the form of the invention shown .in Figure'la, provision'is made for securing suitable wire strength from a wire of smaller crosssection. This result is obtained by extending the flange 2'! of the'head 20 toprovide .a tubular formation '43 enclosing and secured to the wire '23 for a considerable portion .of the length of the latter and by also providingthe wire23 with an upwardly-extended lug .44 passing through a hole 45 'formedI-in the tube 43 so as to prevent lengthwise movement of the wire "23 relatively to the head 23, thes'tructure thus reinforcing the wire 23 and permitting the use of a wire of smaller cross-section.

Inasmuch as a .safetypin is .used in different positions, thedirections and relative positionsof the difierent elements of the safetypin are arbitrarilylherein defined asfollows:

The term "longitudinal indicates a direction parallel to the axis of the pinning end of the safety pin.

The term transverse means .a direction at substantially right angles to the plane of 'the pin head i and the pin head'20.

The word outwardly .means toward the curved .end of the .stem '4uor1the stem 23 which are fixed in the flanges .of the respective plate heads I and 20, thisdirectionlthus indicated by the word outwardly beingparalleltothe-plate heads land20.

The word finwar'dly means a direction ,opposite to that defined as applying to the word outwardly; in other words, a direction away from thecurvedlfixediend of the stem 4 .or the stem 23 and also parallel to the plate head I or the plate headf2'0.

The word laterally. means the same direction as the word transverselyfeand .the word exterior, as applied to the pin .seat, means the lower surface .of the pin seat, as the ,latter is shown-in Figures 1,7, 8, 10, 11,. andll4. The word interior, as applied to the pin seat, .means the vupper surface of theseat, as it appears inFigures 1, '7, 8, 1-0, 11, and 1.4.

What I claim is:

1. A safety pin, .for fastening vlaundry wash nets, havinga head formed with alongitudinallyextending pinning end seat a spring wire secured .at one .endto the head andhaving an opposite pinning end engaging the seat in the closed position of the pinning endrthe spring wire being formed vwith .a tension co'il formation intermediate its .ends, theihead structure forming the ,3:

seat having a transversely-extending projection therein intermediate its ends, said projection extending into the path ,of the vibratory movements of the pinning lend duringthe washing operation, upon which projection thepinningend-rests in its .closediposition, the projection thus providing a longitudinal recess. extending therefrom ,to .the inner end of theseat structure, said .recess being disposedbeneaththe portion .of the end inwardly of and adjacentto the transverse propin inwardly of and adjacent to the transverse projection.

2. A safety pin, for fastening laundry wash nets, characterized as in claim 1, in which the projection is formed by an exterior transverselyindented portion of the head structure forming the seat, to provide a transverse longitudinallynarrow pin mounting in the seat.

3. A safety pin, for fastening laundry wash nets, having a flanged plate-like head formed adjacent one transverse side with a pinning end seat, aspring wire of which one end engages the seat in the closed position of the pinning end, the wire being secured at its opposite end in the flange and adjacent the opposite side of the head, the spring wire being formed with a tension coil formation intermediate its ends, the head being disposed adjacent to and substantially parallel to the path of vibratory movements of the pinning end during the washing operation, abutment means mounted on the pinning end adjacent the tension coil formation, the lower portion of the inner end of the head being cut away to provide a wedging break therein adjacent the seat, whereby folded net material interseated by the pinning end, bearing at its outer side on the walls of the head break, and bearing at its inner side on said abutment means, will beforced, by the play of the pin elements during the laundry operation, into the break and transversely down against the pinning end of the pin to minimize the amount of movement of the pin away from its seat.

A. A safety pin, for fastening laundry wash nets, having a flanged plate-like head formed adjacent one transverse side with a pinning end seat, a spring wire of which one end engages the seat in the closed position of the pinning end, the wire being secured at its opposite end in the flange and adjacent the opposite side of the head, the spring wire being formed with a tension ,away to provide a break therein adjacent the .seat, said break being of increasing longitudinal dimension towardtheseat, whereby folded net material intersected by thepinning end, bearing at its outerside on the walls of the head break,

and hearing at its inner side on said abutment means, will be forced, by the play of the pin elements during the laundry operation, into the break and transversely down against the pinning end of the pin to minimize the amount of movement of the pin away from its seat.

5. .A safety pin, for fastening laundry wash nets, having a head formed with a longitudinallyextending pinning end seat, a spring wire secured at -.one end to the head and having an opposite pinning end engaging theseat in the closed position of the pinningend, the spring wire being formed with a tension coil formation intermethe pinning end during the washing operation, 10

said projection forming a narrow mounting for the pinning end in the seat, the projection thus providing a longitudinal recess in the seat beneath the pinning end and between the projection and the inner end of the seat, whereby 16 pinned folded net material entering the recess during the washing operation will be only lightly held by the pinning end, thus obviating continuous creeping of the net material into the recess and the accumulation of this material in 20 the seat beneath the pinning end of the pin, the inneri end of the head being cut away adjacent the seat to provide a wedging break therein, whereby folded net material intersected by the pinning end, bearing at its outer side on the walls 25 of the head break, and hearing at its inner side on said abutment means, will be forced, by the 5 its seat.

10 play of the pin elements during the washing operation, into the break and transversely down against the pinning end of the pin to minimize the amount of movement of the pin away from JOHN H. TODD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 206,691 Smith Aug. 6, 1878 377,108 Jenkins Jan. 31, 1888 378,318 Jenkins Feb. 21, 1888 759,845 Andersen May 17, 1904 860,362 Fetters July 16, 1907 1,119,497 Dieterich Dec. 1, 1914 1,565,397 Richardson Dec. 15, 1925 1,623,533 Dudas Apr. 5, 1927 2,212,889 Thoresen Aug. 27, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 370,784 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1932 459,485 France Sept. 6, 1913 429,577 Germany May 31, 1926 

